Papa's Got a Brand New Bag

[saw]

you charge, brother
cuz if you runs backward
you'll get shot in the ass,
but i didn't need no shackles
to know I'm a prisoner of love,
nah, this godfather knew Jim Crow.

yeah, i shined some shoes,
delivered some groceries, hell
i even buck danced for dem soldiers
on dem World War II trains, passing by.

i waxed some cars, i stole some cars,
found out there was no such animal
as petty crime in postwar Augusta, Georgia.

Please, Please, Please.....I come up hard,
with fewer prospects than an armadillo
on a Texas highway and I got around a bit.

To hell wit dat top forty junk i was hearin',
whomp down on the first and third beat,
make it funky, yowwwwwwwwwwwwww,
gimme my cape and i''ll fall down three times...
when i take the solo on that busted pump organ,
i don't have to look fer nothin', it's like tablets
written for Moses, yowwwwwwwwwwwww.

What did you say, young man?
"Here are your petits champigons, Mr. Brown"
Wahaaat?...i'm sorry son, but I don't eat
no toadstools.

I loved you Elvis like a brother
with all my heart and especially my soul
and it killed me to look at your bloated face
in the coffin, how'd ya let go, man?
Sheeeet Elvis, we both come from our own
Niggertown, didn't we Elvis, and we really riled
dem girls up, didn't we, we gave um our souls
Elvis and they needed one dozen services
and twelve costume changes to send us to Jesus
and unless they got them a damn good hound dog,
they'll never dig up what was inside your blue suede
shoes, or what was inside my blue sequins neither.

[Lightning Rod]

you are mixing your metaphors here, saw
is this about The King or The Godfather?
maybe it's about you identifying with JB or EP
and I'm just too stupid to see the segue

maybe it's two poems?

[mnaz]

The King broke through some long-held barriers. And the Godfather pushed hard in his footsteps. That's what I'm seeing. Or hearing.

Of course none of it can compare with Beethoven or Mozart,
but that genius was built for a much different time,
and none of it can compare with this.

[saw]

LRod, the entire poem is in James Brown's voice...it's a snapshot of
his life, including his references to Elvis...a godfather rant from beyond the grave, if you will....a man that came from meager beginnings,
rambling about his life.....I guess it's that rambling that doesn't
compute for you.....not easy to sum up a life.....this poem is just
a glimpse of the man from inside his mind taken from things I've read

thanx mnaz.....yea..it's hard to compare classical musicians of that era,
particularly composers of such stature with rock and roll and soul music
performers that for the most part were giving their interpretations of
other's work.....but they all made their indelible marks......

[constantine]

i'm inclined to agree with lrod. bringing elvis into the picture kind of diffuses it for me. also the dialect kind of comes out of nowhere, begins and ends, and then reverts back to regular-type english. still, the poem does have some fine moments and is entertaining.

[hester_prynne]

I dig this!
I think bringing them together is fantastic and it works.
I mean, I was tappin my feet to this along with my heartbeat, both icons so different yet the same in that they brought out the music in everyone, regardless of everything.....
Nice work Saw....
H

[constantine]

i guess i was a little quick on the draw with the dialect - it is consistent - though i think i would prefer it without.

[saw]

thanx hester, you obviously have much better taste than, LRod and
Dino....psych !......no I appreciate the alternate looks...as always it stimulates the creative process, furthering second looks, which are always good.....I kinda like it the way it is, for now...but thanks to all responders........peace out....steve

[judih]

i totally dig it, and not sure if it's taste, or just plain listening to how you play it.
very 'ma-kor-ee' (original in Hebrew) - brand new voice
in a plain paper wrapper,
sequins and suede to go

[saw]

thanx judih for your ma-kor-ee' response....enjoyed it ...peace